Someone Will Love You, But Someone Isn't Me

Skye dresses quickly her hair soaking through the shirt she's wearing, small puddles of water from her skin are forming on the floor but she doesn't care. The hot shower didn't soothe her sore muscles or make her feel any better about the current situation. Throwing the dirty clothes and towel into the small gray hamper in the corner of the room she races out the door, grabbing her phone in the process.

Kebo staying with Ward gives her some reassurance but she can't stop worrying about him. Coulson could do anything he wanted, something tells Skye Grant wouldn't care, that he would let him. Ever since Garrett died Skye believes Ward is depressed, rightfully so, that man was his whole world and now he's gone. Grant probably feels as if he has no place in the world without John. Skye hates Garrett more now than she did before.

He made it so Ward wouldn't know what to do or how to function without orders, so the Specialist would always be loyal and come back to him. Now that he's dead Skye fear Grant will want to join him, just by the way he's been acting. Occasionaly refusing food, not speaking except for a few hours before. Her head is still reeling from that short sleepy conversation, that really happened didn't it? It wasn't a dream?

Skye can't help but feel a little lighter, less guilty where Ward is concerned. She said awful things to him, treated him like crap, never tried to understand him until nearly a year later after everything happened. While she was angry, he deserved better. She's passing the kitchen when May calls her name. Turning back around a little annoyed, she walks through the door to find May, Fitz and Jemma sitting at the kitchen table.

She wants to ask what's up, if this is going to take a long time because she has to get back to Ward. Then she remembers that she's the only one at Shield who doesn't hate him with a burning passion, so she keeps her mouth shut. The guilt though still floods her when Fitz and Simmons meet her eyes, Fitz's hands are shaking despite Jemma's fingers tangled with his own. Skye can't tell what May is feeling about all this, her face is blank and impassive as always.

''Everything okay?''

''Sit down''. May commands, her tone leaving no room for arguing.

Skye obeys noticing how Jemma shifts away from her.

''What's going on between you and Ward?'' May asks, crossing her arms.

''Excuse me?''

''Skye we can all see it, how kind you're being to him''. Jemma responds, Skye glances over to her.

''He was my husband and right now he's in pain. The man he considered his father just died, of course I'm being kind to him''. ''Why do you care? He's a murderer, he deserves whatever the hell is coming to him''.

Skye bites her lip, this sudden protectiveness for Grant coming over her.

''Look May there's nothing going on, okay? And even if there was it would be none of your business. I just feel bad for him that's all''. Fitz glares at her, ''you feel bad for Ward? After what he's done, after what he did to me?''

''Fitz''-

''Grant Ward is a serial killer and a psychopath, he doesn't deserve your sypmathy and he sure as hell doesn't deserve you''. May comments causing Skye to cross her arms as well.

''What is this? Are you punishing me for talking to me husband after his father figure died? Ward is a mess, I just want to help him''.

It was the wrong thing to say, Skye realizes that when Simmons recoils from her chair like she's been slapped.

''Help him? He's probably killed hundreds of people Skye! He dropped Fitz and I into the ocean! He betrayed all of us or did you forget about that?'' ''Of course I didn't''-

''Are you still in love with him?'' Fitz asks his voice shaking. Skye nearly jumps out of her chair, suddenly feeling flustered. ''What? No''.

''Skye it made sense a few months ago, your lingering feelings for him, but now well now you need to let him go. He's a toxic human being, no good for anybody''.

''I am not having this conversation with any of you''.

Skye gets out of the chair only to be halted in her steps by May's stare. ''You tried calling him a few times right after you were shot, didn't you?''

Skye runs a hand through her hair, suddenly feeling like the team is becoming her enemy, her judges, and Ward is the only one she can trust. She shakes that off though, these people are her family and they're just worried for her right now, don't want Ward to hurt her again.

''Yeah''. Skye wanted to lie but couldn't bring herself to do it, what would be the point?

''Coulson told me to block every single call coming in and out of the Playground''. Fitz speaks up, Skye looks over her shoulder at him, ''why?''

''In case Ward tried to contact you, he couldn't''. It all clicks into place right then and there, tears fill her eyes.

''So Ward would try to find me, Coulson was setting up a trap for him''.

''It didn't work, we had no idea Garrett was going to kidnap you. We thought Ward would come after you soon enough and we'd have a shot at him then''. May admits. Skye isn't surprised, Shield will never forgive Ward.

''Coulson had no right to do that''. She tells May who shrugs, ''Ward is a wanted man, he had every right and you know it''. ''So what am I supposed to do May? Just let Coulson torture him to death?'' ''You are a Shield agent, you'll do whatever your Director tells you to''.

Skye closes her eyes, ''what if we lock Ward up in the basement downstairs?'' Her question is met with silence for so long Skye nearly takes it back but then Simmons replies, ''Vault D? What good would that do?''

''He doesn't deserve to die for this Simmons! God. Maybe if we put him in a place to reflect on his actions and get him in therapy he could''- ''Coulson won't go for that''. Fitz says.

''Ward was never loyal to Hydra, okay? He shouldn't even be labeled a traitor, he just joined Hydra to save John Garrett''. ''Skye''- She waves her hand to silence Jemma.

''Ward has never been loyal to Hydra, never will be. I didn't understand that before but I do now''. It's May who stops Skye with a glare so sharp it has her reeling. ''Is that really what you believe? Skye Ward is a master manipulator''-

''He was brain washed May, by Garrett''.

''Skye he's been playing you. You were the easiest target, you have a deep emotional bond he used that to get to you and it worked. He doesn't care about anyone but himself''. Skye thinks back to when Grant took a bullet for her without even blinking, how much he loves Kebo and can't agree with May.

'''He's not a monster May''. The Calvary shakes her head, ''yes he is''. ''That's why he's being treated like one''. Fitz says, causing Skye to freeze. ''What?''

May glares at Fitz almost as if he spilled a secret Skye wasn't supppsed to know about. The look on Fitz's face has Skye freezing in fear. She left Ward alone for only a few minutes and Kebo is with him, he won't let anything happen. Unless Coulson brings an army of Shield agents, Ward and Kebo wouldn't be able to take all of them on by themselves. Is Coulson planning something? Was this conversation with May to distract her?

She's been arguing with her team this whole time and Ward could be dead. ''What the hell are you talking about?'' Skye doesn't recognize her own voice, it's sharp and cold full of fear. ''No matter how you feel about Ward, he has to pay for everything he's done''. Is the only answer May offers and it has Skye running out of the room.

She has no idea what she's going to find in the medical wing, Ward lying dead in his hospital bed? Coulson's gun trained on his face? Skye doesn't make it all the way down the hall before someone grabs her arm. Turning sharply to find Trip, his face so sad it makes tears form in her eyes. ''You can't be down here Skye''. ''Why not?''

Bobbi and Hunter are behind him trying to coax her into going somewhere else, anywhere else and she knows something terrible is happening, or it already did. Skye never thought she'd feel panic or fear when Ward was concerned, that those days of worrying if he was dead or alive were long gone. But this iron cold fear grips at her chest it's so hard to breathe she's shaking, he can't be dead. He doesn't deserve to die, she can't live in a world without him.

Skye doesn't even have time to reflect on how drastically things have changed between she and Ward, a few months ago she couldn't even think about him without wanting to shoot something. Now here she is terrified that her mess of a husband is not breathing somewhere and she never got to say goodybe. Coulson appears out of the medical wing his face giving nothing away, a trail of guards behind him.

The dark head of hair towers over everything else. Ward is tall, she couldn't miss him amoungst the sea of Shield agents surrounding he and Coulson. There have to be at least twenty five men armed to the teeth walking beside Ward, Skye knows his hands and feet have to be bound. At first there's this relief that comes, he's alive he's unharmed. But the brief look of panic in his eyes before he wipes it clean, has her shaking again.

Coulson sees Skye and casts a glare at their fellow Shield agents, ''I thought I told you to keep her out of here''. ''We tried sir''.

''Coulson what the hell are you doing? Ward is hurt he still needs medical attention''. Skye tries to take a step forward but Trip still has her arm, she shouts to get off her, no one sees Ward tense up.

'You're transporting him to a high security prison aren't you? Somewhere he'll never get out, he'll be in a cell for the rest of his life''. Skye asks Coulson, trying to make eye contact with Grant but he won't look at her.

Silence is the only thing that greets Skye, causing her stomach to sink. ''Coulson please tell me that's what you're doing''. Still Phil does not reply.

Flashes of Ward smiling at her in their kitchen, driving late at night the lights of the highway passing across his face. Waking up in the morning to his stubble on her skin, his loud laugh that always made her smile, pass through Skye's mind.

''Coulson please tell me you're not executing him''. She gets close enough to see that Ward has changed from the pale gray hospital gown, to light green prison scrubs. He still won't meet her eyes and she wants to yell at him for it. That familiar all consuming fear enters her lungs making it hard to breathe, it must show on her face because Coulson puts a hand on her shoulder. What once would be a comfort, now feels like posion.

''His brother is asking for him, we're transporting Grant into Christian Ward's care''. Ice down her back as the memory of a very terrified Ward enters her mind. It was after they got in engaged and Skye asked about his family, she knew they were in politics and Ward was born with a silver spoon, she had no idea the monsters that hid behind all that money and power. He told her with trembling words exactly who his parents and Chrisitian were.

Afterwards she remembered Ward looking at her like he expected her to run away screaming. But she just held him, told him what a good man he was and kissed him. She's seen Ward shaken up before, sad, angry, but when she looks at him now there's something new in his eyes. Something she hasn't seen before, pure raw fear. It bleeds all over his perfect face spilling into his cheeks like ink. Is he letting her see this on purpose? Or is it just for show?

Hating that she's even questioning it, she rips herself out of Coulson's grip. Shoves her way through the armed guards to Ward's side. He's shaking and her heart breaks for him. ''Coulson you can't do that''. Grant looks down at her not saying anything barely breathing, before his face goes blank, slack. Where the hell is Kebo? Why isn't he here cursing Coulson and Shield, pointing a gun at all these people holding Ward?

Skye isn't aware her hands are atop of Ward's cuffed ones until she feels his rough skin against her own, his eyes widen just a fraction but then it's gone. ''It's done Skye, it's what he deserves''. There's malice in Phil's voice that ignites something in Skye. Anger fills her blood and Ward must sense it because he nudges her foot with his and shakes his head. But Skye doesn't listen, she keeps her hands tangled with his and shifts her stance.

Instead of standing beside Ward she's now in front of him, protecting him from any outside forces. Ward tries to move her but Skye does not budge, not an inch. Coulson and the team notice this and all give her disappointed glares at once. But she doesn't care she doesn't see them, all she can picture is Grant as a child tortured and bullied by his parents and brother. Beaten alone and scared, tears fall down her face hot and fast.

''Coulson you don't understand, Christian is not a good person''.

''Neither is his little brother''.

''Will you get over your hatred for Grant for just one second? Christian is going to kill him! You can't do this. Please, just put Ward in Vault D, get him a therapist someone who can help. If you ship him off to his brother you're signing Grant's death sentence''.

Phil gives her a sad look, not for Ward, but for his poor wife who just can't seem to let him go, he thinks.

''Ward signed his own death sentence the minute he betrayed Shield''.

Frustration weighs her legs down Skye wants to punch her boss to knock some sense into him, say anything do anything to change his mind. But she can see it in his eyes that this decision was made and there's nothing she can do to change it. Skye has no power here, and Ward won't fight it. Skye knows the thoughts that are currently running through his brain.

That he deserves this, John is dead and his life has no meaning. His wife does not love him, it was long overdue seeing his brother again. Skye squeezes his knuckles trying to assure him, but can't tell if it worked. ''You can't do this Coulson, please don't''.

Sympathy plays at his features, every Shield agent present gives her their best ''condolence'' looks and it makes Skye want to punch something.

''If you do this you're killing him''. She tells Phil who shrugs it off like Ward is a bug under his shoe and not a living breathing human being.

''It's done Skye, and I highly doubt Senator Ward would kill his little brother. I'm sure Ward will be given a fair trial''.

Skye scoffs, ''he's as good as dead and you know it, don't lie to me just to make you sleep better at night for this decision''. Phil's mouth draws into a hard line but he does not respond.

Knowing she won't get anywhere with Coulson she turns her rage on Ward, who is has been stone silent this entire time not even trying to defend himself. Her tone is desperate, pleading when she says, ''Say something''. He just gives her a dead stare that causes her to put her hands on his chest. Maybe it's to convince him to stay to fight, maybe it's to feel his heart under her palm one more time, maybe it's a reminder of everything she once had that's gone now.

Ward flinches at her touch but still, remains quiet. The brown eyes she used to wake up to every morning are void of emotion, he's like a shell of Grant Ward. She can't find anything about him familiar, is this who he is without John Garrett? All that left over hurt and pain inside is gone, it doesn't matter. Now fresh iron hot suffering is in it's place at the thought of never seeing him again.

This man who has been through so much with her, has seen the worst parts of her and still stayed. He won't get a trail, Christian Ward is going to kill his own brother in the name of justice and there is nothing she can do about it.

''Are you just going to stand there and let them do this to you?'' Ward opens his mouth and then closes it, almost as if he wants to form words but can't. ''I deserve it''. He says eventually, softly, broken.

''No you don't''. Skye is shaking her head digging her fingers into this rough shirt covering his skin. ''I am not a good man Skye''.

Nails push harder into the fabric, enough pressure to puncture and draw blood but still Ward does nothing. ''So you're just going to let them kill you?'' ''If that's what my brother wants. If that's the price I have to pay for everything I've done''.

Skye breaks. Can feel herself crack slowly piece by piece like she's a coffee mug on a table and was just knocked over on a hard wood floor. She's not Agent Skye in this moment. She's no one but Grant Ward's wife who has loved him for almost seven years. They have gone through heart break and crying in each other's arms. Sharing joy and tears over two pink lines on a pregnancy test. Seeking comfort in one another when the feeling didn't last.

So many memories the awful the ugly the happy the sad, the love made and broken torn down by crazy mentors and own personal pride, race through Skye's mind. Ward smiling, frowning, laughing and crying next to her. The first time she saw him with his smooth cheekbones all those years ago, that shy smile he gave her the first time they kissed. Walking towards him on their wedding day, he looked at her like she was the brightest sun.

''You don't mean that Grant''. ''Yes I do''. His voice is so empty.

How is he okay with this? Why isn't he fighting back why is he doing this to her? ''Maybe I deserve to die Skye''.

She's openly sobbing then shoving at his chest slapping him, hands grab her arms but she shoves them away from her. ''What about me? You maybe just fine with dying but what about me when you do? What am I supposed to do when you stop breathing?''

She screams at him tears on her lips she can't feel her body or her hands there's just Grant looking at her with nothing in his face. ''I've been dead to you for a long time Skye''.

She slaps him, making it the second time she's ever struck his face but she can't find it in herself to be angry over it. ''Please don't leave me''.

A brief flicker of something takes over him, his hands suddenly curl into her own, warm now not cold.

''You'll be alright Skye''. Shaking her head salt water heavy in her eyes it's hard to see she replies. ''no I won't. Not without you, please Grant please don't let them take you away from me''. She clutches his hands so hard bordering on painful but neither let go.

Skye feels someone at her back, May says they only have a few minutes left to get Ward to the transport van. Grant doesn't move or blink, he's still withdrawn in front of her.

There's a voice in her head that whispers this is the last time she will ever see him. The stubble across his cheeks, those eyes she always got lost in, his fingers between her own. She will never hear him say her name again, never feel his lips against her own, they will never get a second chance. Ward will die never knowing that Skye was still waiting for him, and she will spend the rest of her life doing it too.

Grant is the love of her life. And she has to say goodbye to him. How do you do that? How do you look at the one you love most in this world and just let them go? How can you stand in front of them knowing they won't ever hold you again, walk next to you, drink coffee early in the morning with you? You will never hear them laugh or see them smile, they will never wake up with you or make breakfast on late Sunday mornings.

How is Skye supposed to be okay with that? How is anyone expecting her to just let her husband walk out of here knowing he's going to die? That his brother is an awful man and has always wanted Grant to suffer? She looks at Ward now and doesn't see fear or sadness in his face. He's just empty, like there was a faucet inside him and someone turned the handle until all the water drained from his skin and there was nothing left.

Skye throws her arms around his waist, her fingers thrust underneath his shirt to feel his hot skin. Buries her face in his chest her ear to his heart beat, the sound is something she wasn't aware she treasured but does now because it's limited. He still smells the same, same familiar after shave and gun powder. His strong body lined with hers, Skye has never felt safer when she was with him, she wishes he was able to put his strong arms around her.

No matter how much she wants to deny it, to believe she can fight this she knows, Ward has accepted his fate. And there is nothing she can do or say to change it. ''I love you''. She tells him crying again, her tears staining the ugly green shirt, fingers like claws into his back like she's able to root him in place, to stay here with her. Ward's body perks up with surprise at that, ''Skye you don't have to''- ''No, shut up Ward.

I love you Grant, I never stopped. I've always loved you, I will always be in love with you''. She can't see his face but it falls, falters for just a moment as he lays his cheek against her hair. Skye sobs into his chest until she can't anymore, until hands pull her away from Ward and she lets them. Watches through puffy eyes as May and Trip drag her away. The guards pull out a black bag to cover Grant's face and his eyes are fixed on her.

Just before it passes over his lips he breathes her name, just her name. And then nothing at all. He's led away down the hall and disappears from view. Leaving Skye screaming after Coulson to stop this, she's crying on Trip's shoulder but no one listens to her. She's a crumpled mess against Trip, from this day on she will never be the same. Losing who you love changes you, alters you in a way that you won't even recognize the person staring in the mirror back at you.

And if Coulson feels guilty for this no one would ever know.

What Shield didn't count on however was there was someone else at the Playground who loves Ward, who swore so long ago to save him from anything and everything or die trying. Which is why Skye straightens when she sees a figure flying down the hallway past them, and once she is able to make out it's Kebo, a flicker of hope enters her chest. Kebo will help Grant, Kebo will save him, it's what he's good at.

When an alarm sounds a few minutes later causing May and Bobbi to run the direction Coulson went, Skye knows that Kebo either got Ward out or they are both dead. Detaching herself from Trip she sprints to Coulson's office to access the security feed around the Playground. It only takes a few seconds and ah, there it is. The transport van is on fire everything it seems is up in flames it's hard to make out anything.

Coulson and May along with other Shield agents are running around trying to find anything in the wreckage, Skye can't see Ward. She starts to panic, surely Kebo isn't that stupid to get them both blown up. But then very carefully with trained eyes, and because it was meant for her to see, there in the corner of the screen, right beside the burning van is Ward. And he winks at the camera, at her, before Kebo's hand is dragging him out of the Playground by the shoulder.

''Son of a bitch''. Is all she says but happy tears are trailing down her face and she's smiling, the grief all but vanishing. Ward is nothing if not a survivor, and he does that best. Garrett, life, Shield, taught him well. She will see him again, that she can count on.

*

Eight Months Later

The bar is stuffy and packed, old country music is blaring out of a dusty jukebox. Ward looks around the room for an open seat, spots one in the back and walks over. It no longer aches to move his feet or breathe, the overwhelming sorrow at John's passing doesn't hurt so much anymore. He supposes time heals all wounds and while he will forever miss his father figure, Ward is learning who he is without him. How to live without Garrett, without orders.

He never believed in therapy, even as a child he used to hear his father rant and rave at his mother how therapists were just people who stuffed with you pills to collect a paycheck. It's a far cry from that actually, for Grant at least. He sees a man named Paul three times a week and it's done wonders for all of Ward's anxiety, guilt, shame and sadness over everything he's ever experienced in life.

Taking off the leather jacket and draping it over the booth, Ward rubs away the cold from his hands and looks around. Nothing out of place, nothing to put his senses on high alert, no threat here. Yet. Ward has accpeted that he will probably always be paranoid, on guard, it's just something he can't turn off. A waitress with big blue eyes comes to take his order, a beer and glass of water.

He sees her shine with hope as she flirts with him, but it quickly disappears when she catches the glow of his wedding ring beneath the lights. As he begins to sip his beer his thoughts turn to Skye, as they always do. He hasn't seen her since that day at the Playground when Coulson was going to send him off to Christian for a ''trial''. But they all knew it was an execution. If it weren't for Kebo pulling a miracle out of his ass, Ward can honestly say he was going to go through with it.

Let Christian find him guilty for his ties to Hydra and put him to death. Most nights Skye's face as she begged him not leave her, haunt his dreams. He's spoken to her a few times over the months, on the phone or in an email. She has been busy with Shield and Ward has taken up jobs as a paid mercenary that causes him to travel all over the world. He misses his wife, the wife who loves him still. That was a shock, to hear her say those words.

Grant thought Skye would always hate him, that love was something they'd never have again. That he would be one sided in that relationship, always loving her from afar. He remembers thinking it was nice to hear, somethig to carry with him to his death. But they both should have known Kebo was not about to let that happen. After causing the van to explode and getting him out of there, Kebo yelled at Ward for hours as they escaped.

Pouted and moped about Ward's choice for days, calling him an idiot and everything else under the sun for weeks. Grant joked that if he'd known Kebo was going to whine about it this much, he was better off in Christian's hands. It did not go over well. Currently Kebo is in Tokyo watching over one of their tagets, Ward is enjoying the comfortable silence while he's gone. Looking around the bar again all seems well, no threats.

A threat does come an hour later though, and Grant doesn't notice until it's entirely too late and he's sitting there unprepared. A dark leather jacket slides into the booth right up next to him, familiar perfume drifts over to him making it hard to focus on anything else. He turns, surprised, as Skye presses as close to him as she can get without sitting in his lap. Fifty different questions speed through his mind at the sight of her.

What is she doing here, how did she find him, does she still love him, is this an ambush? But all that melts away when she smiles at him with her big brown eyes. ''Skye''. Her hair is longer like it was when they first met all that time ago, there are subtle changes in her thought that weren't there the last time he saw her. She seems softer, not at all the hard ice cold woman that he used to see.

She seems warm and he wants to touch her skin to see if she's warm there too. Her cheeks are flushed as she yanks off the tan gloves protecting her fingers from the snow outside. Grant's heart probably stops beating when he sees the rings on her left hand sparkle. At first he thinks she's moved on with someone else and while he feels all consuming hurt inside, he wants her to be happy. Which is something he can't make her anymore.

But after studying them further he sees they are the ones he gave her on their wedding day. Did she find them? But how? Last he heard she had flushed them down a toliet after finding out he was Hydra, he never blamed her for it. Skye noticing his stare, says nothing as she takes his beer and down the rest of it.

''Wow Agent Toolbag at work and off the clock''. It takes a second to register what she means and then he's grinning like a fool at her. It was the first thing she ever said to him, that started it all. So long ago, they've come so far since then. Ward had no idea things would turn out the way it did. He wishes he could go back in time to the Grant a year ago and tell him that even though it hurts and seems hopeless, it'll all work out.

Skye will come back to you, one way or another.

''Thought you threw those out''. He says, nodding to the rings and Skye blushes, actually blushes. When was the last time he saw that?

It's still adorable all the same, he's missed it.

''I did but it wasn't hard to find an exact copy of both if you know the right people''.

''Good, that's good''. He wants to ask what it means for them but doesn't, mostly because the waitress comes by and Ward loses his nerve.

It's been nearly a year since they were together, longer than they've lived life as a married couple. What is Skye getting at? Is she trying to tell him something?

''So there's this man''. She says, turning to look at him. Ward tries not to feel deflated and fails, why is she talking to him about someone else?

What was the point of making a show about the wedding rings? What's she getting at?

''I'm kind of in love with him but he's squirrley about that on account of betraying me a while ago. And I tracked him down to Boston of all places, but now I'm sitting here next to him and have no idea what to say, or how to say it''.

Her hand is suddenly on his thigh and he stops breathing.

God it's like he doesn't remember how to act around her or something.

''So what do you think I should do?'' Skye asks looking at him again her eyes dark, she's pressed so tight against him so close he can feel every inch of her.

Ward finds his voice eventually, has to clear it a few times, ''I think you should kiss me''.

That gets an eyebrow raise but Skye pushes up so her mouth is inches from his, ''you shouldn't kiss another man's wife''.

His hand is cupping the back of her neck, the other threading his fingers through her own when he responds, ''I'm sure I won't mind''.

Then her lips are on his and it's coming home. ''I love you too Skye''. He tells her before kissing her again, her smile against his mouth, her sigh as he deepens the kiss.

And for once since everything went to hell after Shield fell, Ward has hope. That even though their lives are messy and definitely not perfect, as long as they have each other it will all work out.

Ward has his Skye back and Raina was right, she is all he's ever wanted.